Through the forest On the Nose
When I read the article in October 02 LR Enthusiast about the event in Holland where 150 Landies attacked a »mountain« of some 20 meters, I felled some pity for Dutch colleagues. Here in Slovenia we have a plenty of mountains and hills and more then 70% of a landscape is covered with forest. No wonder that preparing a Land Rover event in Slovenia is always connected with forest drive and hill climbing. Also for this year's autumn event we couldn't resist it. We chose one of most known mountain that dominate southwest part and clearly represent a natural border between Mediterranean and continental clime in Slovenia. It's name is Nanos which could be also translated »On the nose« and is 1300 m high.

So we gathered in Ljubljana on 26th of October. With »club members only« promotion we manage to gather 11 Land Rovers, 20 adults, 1 teenager and 1 dog. There was 6 Defenders, 3 Discovery and 2 Freelanders and we have missed only Range Rover of Club secretary - he claims that RR was »tired« from intensive tracing few days before. In quite warm but cloudy weather we headed southwest to the waste forests of a »bear land« and soon we were greenlaning deep in wet, autumn forest. There was already first »special trial« which was unfortunately manageable only with good equipped Defenders and some skills how to use them. Freelanders and 2 Discos get around and we meet each other half an hour latter. After some normal road we took a coffee break in a forest glade where Igor the Club Pathfinder find out that the right back spring on his Defender 110 fell out of the holder. So we have finally some free lessons from Janez that held a car repair center in Ljubljana, how to use Highjack and install the spring where it belongs.

Igor was now somehow less confident but we were soon following him through the nice forests roads to the next special trial. Second one was less demanding but still too rocky for Freelanders while Discoveries enjoy a lot. Igor didn't try luck with its suspension and probably because of that smoke half of pack of cigarettes in 30 minutes. With smiles on faces we were ready for final stage - climbing to the top of Nanos. We expected some astonishing views (up to the Adriatic see) from the top and decent food in a mountain hut. After one hour of drive we almost get lost in a thick fog and barely noticed that we are already on the top - so much about view! But at least the food and tea (and some beers) was very good indeed. After the opinion and experience sharing we have calculated that we needed 5 hours for some 60 miles and decided to go home individually as everyone need some time at home to wash his beloved Land Rover. Next event is planned in Alps to the end of November if some early snow (and we have a lot of snow in Slovenia) will not postpone it to the spring.

Marjan Cukrov, member of KLRS